Okay so im new to this forum and i have some questions. I just bought my first truck. Im 18 and i have worked on cars since i can remember, im not book smart at all, but if i take it apart i can get it back together right. I have always worked on tuner cars since thats what my older brothers always had. I love big lifted trucks and thats what im going to have. I have a 1990 f150 2wd custom. I want to do 4x4 and straight front axle. Most people would say sell your truck and buy a 4x4, but im not going to do that since i bought this truck off of a friend and it was there grandfathers and he passed away. I promised i would take care of this truck and thats what im going to do. I know its going to take a lot of money to do what i want to do to this truck but i dont care i dont want it done next week this is a long project. So my first question is what axle is in the back of my truck? Second question is what axle do i need to put up front and out of what truck? Third i have a 4.9 I6 in my truck and its a 5 speed trany so what do i need to make it 4x4? really i want to know what all i need to do the 4x4 straight axle. Okay now next to my next thing i want to do, I do not like my front end, i like the 94 and 95 front ends. Does the fenders and hood and lights and grill line up with the holes that are already there? If any one can help me out with the parts i need would be a big help, plz dont tell me to sell my truck i love my truck and am going to make this truck what i want. Plz help thank you


Nathan stockdale

 

I can help on the rear axle. Get the axle code off of the drivers side info tag on the door jam and google ford axle codes. Verify with the axle tag on the rear diff cover.

 

okay thanks man

 

For the front clip you will need to replace the grill headlights and entire radiator support I think you need the front fenders and hood as well. With all the work you want to do, look for a donor vehicle that has what you want in it. Keep in mind you are replacing about half the truck; front clip, transmission, driveshafts, front axle, front suspension. There are several build threads on this board from people that have done these jobs though. Do a search on the board and on Google. There is a really good write up with pictures of a 4x4 conversion of a bronco but I can't remember the site so hit up Google for it. Also try LMC truck and National Parts Depot. They have good listings of parts and nice diagrams of where they go.

 

Okay my rear axle is code 18, my question is what is dana 44 and i know i want dana 44 front so do i need dana 44 rear?

 

Your rear axle should be, a ford 8.8" with a gear ratio of 3.08:1,
a Dana 44 is an axle made by the Dana Spicer corporation, and supplied , in various forms to many different manufacturers, including ford. Check it out Wikipedia http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_44

You don't need a Dana rear to go with the Dana front, the gear ratios need t.o match.

Unless you want to run huge tires, or rock crawl, the solid axle swap is not a great gain over the stock ford I beam front, if you could find a front axle assembly from a f150 or bronco made from 1980 to 1996, it will bolt directly in your truck, that leaves only adding a transfer case and driveshafts, and you have a 4x4, with one of the most successful suspensions in the history of off road racing.

 

Also if you have 3.08s in the rear you will need to change to atleast 3.55 or 4.10 gears for any tire over 31", otherwise it would just be too much on the clutch to get rolling and your acceleration would suffer greatly.

 

What i want is 7 to 8 inch lift with 35-40inch tires. I want my truck to be big.

 

btw your looking at thousands of dollars for this project, even if you do the work yourself. not saying to sell and buy a 4x4 because projects are the fun part about owning a truck imo, but converting to 4x4 requires some technical work . If you do go through with it make sure to post pictures!

 

Real talk.